Automatic control for steam boilers



Sept. 24, 1929. w. 0. HAMER AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed Oct. 30. 1926 o R m m D N M n W BY A rpa'nn.

Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES WILLIAM D. HAMER, or Lone BEAG'H, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR STEAM BOILERS Application filed October 30, 1926. Serial No. 145,355.-

This invention relates particularly to automatic controls for steam boiler feed water and an object of my invention is to provide a control which acts directly on the feed Water 5 line.

Another object is to provide a control by means of which a plurality of boilers can be controlled from a device mounted on each of the boilers.

A further object is to provide an automatic control which is simple in construction and effective in operation.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of my control in position on a boiler.

Referring more particularly to the draw- The numeral 1 indicates a boiler of well known construction, the low water level of which is shown at 2. My control mechanism 3 is mounted above the boiler 1 and comprises a tube 4 which extends through the boiler shell and projects above and below said shell. A valve seat 5 is formedon the lower end of the tube 4, the purpose of which so will be further described. A perforated cage 6 is secured to the tube 4 and depends therefrom, and a float 7 is positioned within said cage. The float 7 is of any well known construction and is preferably hollow, and a rod 8 extends through said float and rises therefrom through the tube 4. The perforated cage 6 prevents the turbulence of the water from greatly affecting the float; that is, the boiling of the water causing a turbulence will not act directly upon the float 7 but will be broken up, thus tending to steady the action of the float.

The float 7 may be adjusted on the rod 8 by means of nuts 9, 9 at the top and bottom of said float. A valve 10 is slidably mounted on the rod 8 above the float 7, and a light spring 11 urges said valve upwardly, and also provides a yieldable seating of said valve on the seat 5; that is, after the valve is' seated the float 7 may still have a certain amount of movement up or down without affecting the valve. A stop 10" is provided on the rod 8 which is adapted to engage the valve 10 on the downward movement of the rod to unseat said valve.

A cylinder 12 is mounted on the upper end of the tube 4 and a second cylinder 13 is superposed on the first named cylinder. A piston 14 is secured to the upper end of the rod 8 and is adapted to reciprocate in the piston 13. A steam line 15 extends into the upper end of the cylinder 13, said'steam line carrying the full steam pressure of the boiler. Thus it will be seen that the piston 14 is balanced and the pressures on both sides of it are equalsince both the steam line 15 and the tube 4 carry the full steam pressure of the boiler.

A slide valve 16 is secured to the rod 8, said valve controlling the admission of steam to the pop valve 17. A pipe 18'extends from the cylinder 12 to the diaphragm valve 19, said valve being adapted to control a valve 20 in the boiler feed water line 21. A Weighted arm 22 secured to the valve 20 is adapted to close said valve as will be further described.

The operation of my valve is as follows:

When there is suflicient water in the boiler 1, that is, when the water level is high, a float 7 rises in the water carrying the valve 10 so against the seat 5, thus closing the tube 4 and preventing the admission of steam thereto. The upward movement of the rod 8 causes the slide valve 16 to open the pop valve 17 releasing the steam pressure in the cylinder 12. This release of pressure in the cylinder 12 is communicated to the diaphragm valve 19 relieving the pressureon the top thereof, and permitting the weighted arm 22 to close the valve 20, thus shutting off the said water to the boiler. The steam pressure in the boiler still acts on the top of the piston 14 and against the bottom of the valve 10. Thus it will be seen that the float 7 is free to act without taking into account the steam pressureof the boiler, and will readily rise and fall with the water and accurately control the valves. As the water level lowers in the boiler the float 7 will drop, causing the valve 10 to move off of the seat 5, and this lowering 4 of the float will also close the pop valve 17 Steam pressure is now admitted to the tube 4 which pressure is carried through the pipe 18 to the diaphragm valve 19 causing said valve to be depressed, and thus opening the valve 20 to'permit the feed water to again flow into the boiler.

I providea gate valve 23 in the tube 4, which valve may be closed when it is desired to work on the control.

The yieldable mounting of the valve 10 on the rod 8 enables said valve to close the tube 4 before the pop valve 17 is opened; thus the boiler pressure will not be exhausted through said pop valve, but the pressure in the cylinder 12 will be released as previously described. 1

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A feed water control for boilers comprising a float, a tube extending through the boiler shell, a rod rising from said float, valve means on said rod adapted to close said tube, pressure relief means for said tube adapted to be actuated by the rod and mounted thereon, a feed water inlet pipe for the boiler, valve means in said feed water line, and means to control said valve, and a pressure pipe extending from said tube whereby said control means is actuated.

2. A feed water control for boilers comprising a float, a tube extending through the boiler shell, a rod rising from said float,-valve means on said rod adapted to close said tube, pressure relief means forsaid tube adapted to be actuated by the rod, a feed water inlet pipe for the boiler, valve means in said feed water line, and means to control said valve, and a pressure pipe extending from said tube whereby said control means is actuated, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder to which said rod is secured, said cylinder having a pressure inlet pipe extending into the top thereof, and carrying the pressure of the boiler thereto.

3.- A feed water control for boilers comprising a float, a perforated cage surrounding said float, a tube extending through the shell of the boiler, a rod rising from said float and extending through the tube, valve means on said rod adapted to close said tube, a cylinder mounted on the upper end of said tube, a

a valve slidably mounted on said rod, yieldable means positioned between the float and the valve, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder secured to the rod, a steam pipe extending from the boiler to the top of said cylinder pressure relief means for said tube, sai means being adapted to be controlled by the rod, a feed water intake line, a valve in said line, pressure control means adapted to actu ate said valve anda pipe extending from said tube to the pressure control means.

5. A feed water control for boilers comprising a float, a perforated cage surrounding said float, a tube extending through the shell of the boiler, a valve seat in the lower end of said tube, a rod rising from said float, a valve slidably mounted on said rod, yieldable means positioned between the float and the valve, a gate valve in said tube adapted to close around the rod, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder secured to the rod, a steam pipe extending from the boiler to the top of said cylinder, pressure relief means for said tube, said means being adapted to be controlled by the rod, a feed water intake line, a valve in said line, pressure control means adapted to actuate said valve and a pipe extending from said tube to the pressure control means.

6. A feed water control for boilerscomprising a float, a tube extending through the shell of the boiler, a valve seat in the lower end of said tube, a rod rising from said float, a valve slidably mounted on said rod, yieldable means positioned between the float and the valve, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder secured to the rod, a steam pipe extending from the boiler to the top of said cylinder, pressure relief means for said tube, said pressure re lief means comprising a pop valve, and a slide valve secured to the rod and adapted to control the pop valve, said means. being adapted to be controlled by the rod, a feed water intake line, a valve in said line, pressure control means adapted to actuate said valve, and a pipe extendingfrom said tube to the pressure control means.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM D. HAMER.

valve in said cylinder, means actuated by said rod whereby the valve is opened and closed, a second cylinder, a plston in said cylinder secured to the rod, a steam inlet pipe extending into the top ofthe second cylinder, a feed water inlet pipe, a valve in said pipe, pressure control means adapted to actuate said valve, and a steam pipe extending from said first named cylinder to the pressure control means.

4. A feed water control for boilers comprising a float, a tube extending through the shell of the boiler, a valve seat in the lower end of said tube, a rod rising from said float, 

